Instep-support.



W. F. CNNELL.

INSTEP SUPPORT. v

APPLICATION FILED JAN.2'1, 1913.

E ,TSTL Patented Nin/.4.1913

entre srars PATENT omiten WILLIAM F. CONNELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

INSTEP-SUPPORT.

investi.

To oZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM F. CONNELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, in the Iwithin the limits desired; to provide such a support with auxiliary means cooperating therewith whereby a part of the work of yicldingly supporting the instep is done by .said means and a part hy the main plate and still another part by the two coperating and (zo-acting with each other.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement on the support shown in Letters Patent ot the Unitedv States, No. 970,930 of December 27, 1910, and is designed to carry forwardthe principle of constrnctimi therein described and shown.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described andi claimed and illusiraied in the accompanying drawings.

ln the said drawings, Figure l is an under side plan view of an instep arch support embodying the imi'irovements; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same taken on the line 2*?, of Fig. l, looking in the di'- rection indicated hy the arrows.

',ihe main plate A is arched from end to end and trom side to side to approximate the arch ot the human instep, and is provided with an upturned curved side portion fr approximating the inner side of the. said instep arch. A cover C of leather or other suitable non-metallie substance is secured to the upper side of the main plate by means of rivets l. This cover extends beyond the edges et the plaie A and side portionu in the usual manner to protect the foot of the wearer from the metal. lt desired, separate rivetsl or fastening means may be employed to connect the plate and the cover.

The reinforcing spring B is downwardly ,curved at its medial part, and at its ends B and B2 is formed on an ogee curve so that it hrst curves upwardly toward the mam plate Specification of Letters' Patent.

Application filed January 21, 1913.

Patented Nov. 4., una` Serial No. 743,239.

and then downwardly on a curve of gradually lengthening radius parallel with the' curvature of the part ofthe plate A with which it is in Contact. The spring B is located near the middle ot the main plate,- extends longitudinally thereof from a point near one end to a point near the vopposite end and has its middle portion slightly below the plane of the ends of the plate so that it is constantly in contact with the sole of the shoe in which it is worn and will'always act to receive the weight of the foot in thetirst instance. "i j The longitudinal slots D and' D are `l cated near the ends of the auxiliary sprinb B and receive the shanks of `the rivets E, which are prevented vfrom withdrawing therefrom by their heads which are oit greater diameter than the slots. The rivets are normally located intermediate the ends of the slots, so that the spring B and plate A, may be flexed in either direction without placing undue torsional strain on the rivets r the spring adjacent to the slots. This permits the adjustment of the spring or the plate, or both, to meet different conditions without disengaging the spring from its fastenings. It also permits the independent movement of the spring and main plate within certain limits while in use. If desired, the ends of the slots may be enlarged so th at by moving the spring until the rivet reaches the enlarged end it may be disengaged therefrom and another spring substituted.

The peculiar formation of the ends of the spring B is intended to produce an important result, namely`r that of providingy a maximum Contact surface between the said ends andthe main plate and, at the same time, preventing the ends Jfrom turning away from the, plate when the plate and spring are subjected to pressure. This increases the usefulness and durability of the device and prevents it Jfrom causing abrasion of the sole of the shoe.

In operation the weight of the wearer is first received by the medial portion of the spring and the ends of the plate, which causes both spring and plate to extend. the curvature of the spring is on a smaller radius than the curvature of the plate, however, the extension of these two portions will not coordinate, and this is compensated for by the free movement ot the spring or plate relative to the other permitted by the ri-vet and slot connection. When the plate has beendepressed to a certain extent A the spring B will be straightened, and the "rivets E will reach the 'ends of their respec- 5 tive slots, and the sprinlg will then act as va strap to check the further extension of the late and thiifs prevent -it from cracking. l viththis device a platev of extremely thin, light metal maybe used, and all the efii- .ip ciency which is usually attained by a rela- -tively-heavy plate, secured. It will be understood that the spring may .he connected v\\"ith"'the plate by means of rivets passed smigl'y through a hol'e at o'e end and a slot 15 l f ,the other, and that other changes in j" -maybe made without departing from the s irit of the invention. i Y.

` t'I claim is: i

In a device of the character described, the

:2li combination o f a metallic plate curved to` approximate theunder surface of the instep `and extending from side to side thereof, an

auxiliary spring secured to the under side of said plate extending longitudinally thereof from a point near one end toa point near the opposite end and 4curved downwardly fitness my hand this 15th day of Janui ary 1913, at the city of New York, inthe county and State of'NeW York.

WILLIAM F. CONNELL.

Witnesses:

ALAN C. MCDONNELL, I HELEN V. FITZPATRICK. 

